1. Verbs Followed by Gerunds
&
Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Peter Mangiaracina
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2. Explanation
It is often difficult to determine how verbs are
linked to other verbs. There are three choices:
•They can be followed by gerunds.
•They can be followed by infinitives.
•They can be followed by BOTH.
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3. Examples
Marta enjoys going to museums.
Anglea decided to stay home and watch TV.
Nieves loves to go (going) swimming.
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4. Unfortunately, there are no rules governing
which verb form is used after each verb.
This presentation lists common verbs and
what comes after.
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5. Followed by Gerunds
admit dislike give up miss
avoid enjoy have trouble put off
deny feel like keep (on) quit
discuss finish mind suggest
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6. Followed by Infinitives
agree fail offer promise
choose hope plan refuse
decide learn prepare seem
respect need pretend want
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7. Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives
with no change of meaning
attempt like
begin love
continue prefer
hate start
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8. Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives
with change of meaning
Forget + to not remember what you had to do
Forget + -ing not remember something you have done
Remember + to remember what you had to do
Remember + -ing remember something you have done
Stop + to pause in order to do something
Stop + -ing quit doing something
Go on + to change to something new
Go on + -ing continue doing
Try + to make an effort
Try + -ing do something to see what happens
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9. Change of Meaning Examples
I remembered/forgot to lock the door when I left the house.
I remember playing in the garden when I was a child.
I stopped on my way home to chat with a friend.
I stopped smoking ten years ago.
We talked about the economy for an hour, then we went on to talk about baseball.
We went on talking all night long.
I tried to fix my TV, but I couldn’t.
First, I tried unplugging it, and plugging it back in. Then I tried playing around with the
controls. Nothing worked.
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